Walter J. Boyer; In Memory

Walter J. Boyer, passed away on 17 June 2011 at the age of 65. Below is an execerpt of the Eulogy I gave at his funeral.

Walter Joseph Boyer, Jr. was born on September 15, 1946, the oldest son of Mr. Walter Joseph Boyer and Mrs. Mary Ann Bolting Boyer, in Detroit, Michigan. His family moved to Rosebud, Texas in early 1950’s, where his father found work as an insurance agent. His mother worked for a credit union and eventually became president of that institution.

Wally and his brother, Donald, were raised in a loving home by parents who were active members of their local Catholic church. They attended regularly, which deepened Wally’s faith at an early age.

Wally started playing the accordion at 5 years old and soon became good enough to perform for audiences. He played all over Temple and at the schools he attended. It was at this time that Wally discovered his talent and love for music, which he greatly magnified over the years. Wally’s parents had a wonderful love for dancing and taught their boys how to dance. Don mentioned that when they moved to Temple, he and Wally taught their fourth grade class how to Polka. This made for many happy children! Wally’s grandfather at times would take the boys bull frog hunting with a 22. This was done mostly at night! His grandmother did not like to cook the frog legs so Grandpa had to do that!

His grandfather owned a cotton gin and a farm. The boys would often take meals to the gin workers, which their grandmother carefully prepared. She was an amazing cook and everyone appreciated her talent for preparing wonderful meals. Even the boys appreciated her good cooking – as the meals would always show up at the cotton gin, with a couple pieces of pie missing.

Wally attended and graduated from Temple High School; during his time there Wally played the drums in the band. Every year in High School Wally qualified for be a member of the All State Band.

After high school Wally enrolled in the University of Texas to study music. He was a proud member of the Long Horn Band while there. He played the timpani drums and for years there was a large mural of the band in the music hall which focused on Wally and his drums. He switched his major and deciding on Business Administration he graduated in 1972. He was always proud to be a Longhorn.

He served in the National Guard for 2 years during the Vietnam War and served for 4 years in the reserves. His unit was never called into action, but he served his country faithfully. He always had a deep love and respect for our Country and a strong belief that the founding fathers were inspired by God...

We, as many friends of Wally did, had several conversations about the gospel, religion and different points of doctrine.

I know that Wally had a firm faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ. He knows that we are all children of a loving Heavenly Father, and that through his Son, Jesus Christ all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel. I know that he knows that by keeping the commandments and doing good, we show our love for Jesus Christ, which entitles us to call on Him for forgiveness of our sins, which comes through faith in His atonement. Because of the struggles of mortality, Jesus Christ provides us grace and forgiveness after we repent and do all we can do to keep His commandments.

As we center out lives around the Atonement of Jesus Christ we enjoy more comfort and peace in our lives. Our challenges become opportunities to build faith, which gives us the strength to endure to the end.

Then we come to know as Job says, in Chapter 19, verses 25-26: “For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God.” Each of us will see God in the flesh, as the resurrection of Christ makes that a reality.

There is peace in righteous living, and when we pass away with our faith in tact, death becomes another step in our Heavenly Father’s Plan of Happiness for each of us. Yes we will miss our dear father, grandfather, brother, son, and friend, but we can be secure in knowing that his Heavenly Father, has wrapped his loving arms around him and said, “Well done my good and faithful servant”.

I pray we may all enjoy peace in knowing that Walter Joseph Boyer, Jr. is with his Heavenly Father, in the sacred name of Jesus Christ; Amen.

His Professional Bio:

Walter J. Boyer is a banker, investor, financial and business consultant and advisor to various companies and government entities specializing in government, banking transactions, risk management; including revenue, liquidity & profit enhancement and strategic direction & implementation.

Over several decades, he has served on Boards and Committees with government and commercial entities including The Federal Reserve Board in Washington, DC, banks, businesses, a hospital, a police department and The Boys Clubs of America, Junior Achievement of America and various civic organizations. In the 1970s he served in the US Army Military and Reserves. Educated at the University of Texas, he also taught business school graduates at Southern Methodist University and students at various colleges and universities. In the 1980s he was an elected and appointed delegate to The White House Conferences on Small Business in Washington. In the 1990s he transformed an Asian bank as President from 1 location to 7 locations incorporating over 15 languages.

In the 2000s, he led operational turnarounds of under-performing corporations, and supported banking, security, manufacturing, software, wholesale and retail, real estate development and marketing companies in structuring and executing business strategies. He began as a bank examiner with The Texas Department of Banking and expanded his banking career to include officer positions of Vice President, Executive Vice President, President, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Executive Officer and Board member and management of a $250 million organization.

He has been directly and indirectly involved in regulatory applications involving new bank startups (raising capital), advisory, consulting and buying and selling financial institutions. His business clients encompass small and mid-sized businesses and banks including a $3 billion bank.

He received a three-year appointment to The Federal Reserve Board Consumer Advisory Council, Washington, D. C. under Chairman Alan Greenspan.

He has been a lecturer and created and participated in conventions / seminars / workshops for government, the SBA, universities and businesses with topics including "Asians Doing Business With/In America", "Strategic Planning for Security Companies", "Determining Real Cash Flow for Business", "How to Create a Great Company", "Doing Business The Right Way in Fifteen Languages with Chinese, Koreans, Vietnamese, Pakistani, Indians ...", etc.